Fluid translating device with improved vane support

ABSTRACT

An improved vane support for a fluid translating device of the sliding vane type is disclosed in this application. The vane support consists of an annular ring that has a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments inside the ring and an equal number of spacers between adjacent pairs of segments. At least some of the spacers are adjustable in width to place the segments and spacers under compression and the ring in tension.

United States Patent J ansson [4 1 May 20, 1975 FLUID TRANSLATING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED VANE SUPPORT Inventor: Birger F. Jansson, Racine, Wis.

Assignee: J. 1. Case Company, Racine, Wis.

Filed: July 30, 1973 Appl. No.: 384,106

US. Cl... 418/177; 418/266 Int. Cl. F04c l/00 Field of Search 418/177, 266, 267, 268

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1967 Schmitz 418/177 7/1968 Schmitz 418/177 2/1972 Jansson 418/177 Primary ExaminerC. .1. l-lusar Assistant ExaminerLeonard Smith Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT An improved vane support for a fluid translating device of the sliding vane type is disclosed in this application. The vane support consists of an annular ring that has a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments inside the ring and an equal number of spacers between adjacent pairs of segments. At least some of the spacers are adjustable in width to place the segments and spacers under compression and the ring in tension.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures FLUID TRANSLATING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED VANE SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in fluid translating devices of the type shown in Schmitz U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,391,609 and 3,312,175.

Fluid translating devices of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned patents are generally referred to as vane-type fluid motors. These fluid motors generally incorporate a fixed element that includes an annular stator having a peripheral surface of irregular contour which cooperates with the internal surface of a surrounding rotating element to define at least one working chamber. The surrounding rotating element has a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed slots or channels that slidably support vanes. The vanes are normally biased towards the peripheral surface of the stator through springs that are located in the slots or channels. The rotating element or vane carrying member generally consists of an outer support ring, a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments inside the ring and an equal number of spacers between adjacent pairs of segments. The spacers and segments cooperate to define the vane receiving slots.

In designing fluid translating devices of this type for use with high pressure fluid, for example, in the range of 2000 psi, difficulties have been encountered in producing a vane carrying element that is capable of withstanding such pressures and still function in the intended manner.

When the fluid translating device is operated at pressures equal to or greater than that mentioned above, it has been found that the pressure of the fluid will tend to expand the ring sufficiently to allow the various parts to become loose which will result in jamming of the vane between adjacent segments.

One method that has been proposed for overcoming such a problem is to heat the ring and the various parts during the assembly thereof and then cool the ring while the parts are in assembled relation to produce a contraction and therefore place the segments and spacers in compression while placing the supporting ring in tension. While this method has been partially successful in solving the problem mentioned above, the cost involved makes this solution prohibitive. Also, it has been found that when operating at extremely high pressures, the spacers and segments may tend to rotate relative to the ring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the vane segments are positively held with respect to the supporting ring of a vane supporting member and the segments and associated spacers are placed in compression while the ring is placed in tension through a simplified mechanism. The unit is designed to be capable of withstanding extreme pressures and still allow the vanes to slide freely relative to the vane supporting member.

The vane supporting member of the present invention consists of an outer ring and a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments inside the ring with an equal number of spacers located between adjacent segments. The spacers and segments cooperate to define vane supporting slots or channels that slidably receive the vanes. At least some of the spacers are adjustable in width so that the segments and spacers are placed under compression while the ring is in tension.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the segments are held in fixed relation to the ring by releasable fastening means to further insure that the ring, segments and spacers remain in a fixed position relative to each other.

In the specific embodiment, the adjustable spacers consist of a plurality of wedge elements that are movable axially of the ring to vary the width thereof. For example, three such adjustable spacers may be circumferentially spaced at selected locations and the wedge shaped elements of each adjustable spacer may be shifted axially of each other sufficiently to place a sufficient compressive force on the circumferentially spaced segments and the fixed width spacers to insure that the entire unit will be maintained in a fixed relation at all times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an end view of a fluid translating device having the present invention incorporated therein; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, showing the details of the vane supporting member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

FIG. 1 of the drawings generally discloses a fluid translating device 10 of the type shown in the abovementioned patents. The fluid translating device or motor is of the radial vane variety permitting the development of high torque-to-weight ratio.

Fluid translating device 10 includes a fixed element 12 and a rotating element, generally designated by the reference numeral 14. Fixed element 12 is in the form of a stator 16 that is non-rotatably secured to a fixed support or load bearing member 18 through keys 20.

The rotatable element or vane supporting member 14 includes an intermediate portion (to be described later) having spaced end plates 24 (only one being shown) secured to opposite ends thereof. The vane supporting member has an inner surface 26 that cooperates with an irregularly contoured outer surface 28 on the stator or inner member 16 to define a plurality of chambers 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the unit has been illustrated as a four lobe type (having four chambers 30), but any number of such chambers may be formed.

The vane supporting member 14 defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced vane receiving slots 32, each of which slidably receives and supports a vane 34, and the vanes are biased towards outer surface 28, by springs 36.

As explained in the above-mentioned patents as well as Jansson U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,093, which are incorporated herein be reference, the load supporting member 18 and stator 16 have a plurality of passageways 42 and flow paths 44 and 46 defined therein so that high pressure fluid may be directed from one flow path through some passageways 42 into the chambers 30 adjacent one side of the vanes and the high pressure fluid will cause rotation of the outer element 14 with respect to the stator 18. The fluid may then be exhausted through some of the passageways 42 and a second flow path 46 and returned to the reservoir.

As was explained above, when operating at extremely high pressures, difficulties have been encountered in properly supporting the vanes 34 in the outer member but still allow for substantial unrestricted movement of the vanes within the slots or channels 32.

According to the present invention, the outer support element 14 is constructed in such a manner that all of the elements surrounding the vane are placed in compression while an outer supporting element is placed in tension. Outer element or vane supporting member 14 shaped elements and selection of a proper number of consists of an outer ring 50, a plurality of spacer segments 52 and a plurality of spacers 54, 56. One of the spacers, 56, is adjustable in width for a purpose that will be described later.

As most clearly shown in FIG. 2, spacer 56 consists of wedge means including three wedge-shaped elements 60, 62 and 64 that have adjacent surfaces that are positioned at an angle with respect to the axially center of the ring 50.

Ring 50 has a plurality of sets of openings 70 that respectively receive bolts 72, the lower ends of which are received into threaded openings 74 in segments 52 while the opposite ends of segments 52 have threaded openings 76 for receiving the ends of bolts 78 to hold the plates 24 with respect to the segments.

In assembling the vane supporting member or rotating element 14, the plurality of segments 52 are inserted in a general assembled relation as shown in FIG. 2, and the segments are loosely held on ring 50 by bolts 72. This can be accomplished by forming the openings 70 slightly larger than the diameter of bolts 72 so that the segments may be loosely held with respect to supporting ring 50 and may move circumferentially of the ring. The fixed width or non-adjustable spacers 54 can then be inserted between the adjacent pairs of segments, if they are separate elements shown in FIG. 1 or they may be integral with segments 52 as shown in FIG.

After the segments 52 and spacers 54 have been placed inside the ring 50, the adjustable spacers 56 are placed in position by inserting the two wedge-shaped elements 60 and 62 axially from one side of the ring while the element 64 is moved axially between adjacent adjustable spacers 56, any desired predetermined compression of the respective segment and spacers may be accomplished. At the same time, the outer ring that holds the segments and spacers is placed under tension. Upon completion of the insertion of the adjustable wedges 60, 62 and 64, bolts 72 can be tightened and therefore hold all of the segments in a fixed position with respect to the outer ring. The end plates can then be positioned on opposite ends of the subassembly and secured thereto by bolts 78.

The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive expedient of placing a predetermined amount of compression onto the vane supporting elements and at the same time placing a high degree of tension on the outer supporting ring so that the ring cannot expand sufficiently to loosen the segments and spacers with respect to each other.

I claim:

1. In a fluid translating device of the sliding vane type having a fixed element with fluid flow paths in said fixed element and a rotating element surrounding said fixed element and cooperating therewith to define a chamber, said rotating element including a vane supporting member comprising an annular ring; a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments inside said ring, and an equal number of spacers between adjacent segments and cooperating therewith to define vane receiving slots, characterized by at least one of said spacers being wedge means movable axially of said ring to place said segments under compression and said ring in tension.

2. A fluid translating device as defined in claim 1, in which said wedge means includes at least two wedge elements that are movable axially of said ring to vary the width thereof.

3. A fluid translating device as defined in claim 1, in which said wedge means includes three wedge shaped elements that are movable axially of said ring to vary the width thereof.

4. A fluid translating device as defined in claim 1, in which some of said spacers are integral with an adjacent segment.

5. A fluid translating device as defined in claim 1, further including releasable fastening means for securing the segments to said ring. 

1. In a fluid translating device of the sliding vane type having a fixed element with fluid flow paths in said fixed element and a rotating element surrounding said fixed element and cooperating therewith to define a chamber, said rotating element including a vane supporting member comprising an annular ring; a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments inside said ring, and an equal number of spacers between adjacent segments and cooperating therewith to define vane receiving slots, characterized by at least one of said spacers being wedge means movable axially of said ring to place said segments under compression and said ring in tension.
 2. A fluid translating device as defined in claim 1, in which said wedge means includes at least two wedge elements that are movable axially of said ring to vary the width thereof.
 3. A fluid translating device as defined in claim 1, in which said wedge means includes three wedge shaped elements that are movable axially of said ring to vary the width thereof.
 4. A fluid translating device as defined in claim 1, in which some of said spacers are integral with an adjacent segment.
 5. A fluid translating device as defined in claim 1, further including releasable fastening means for securing the segments to said ring. 